Page 14 of Stuck with my Pack
Brodie smirks, and Tyler huffs a small laugh, but I don’t miss the way their eyes flick toward each other for the briefest moment before turning back to me.
Both men glance at me, their expressions shifting, though the tension lingers just beneath the surface. Brodie’s mouth quirks into a faint smirk, the edge of his guarded demeanor softening slightly.
“Less of a disaster, huh? That’s a tall order,” he says, his tone light but carrying a hint of something deeper as his amber eyes flick back to Tyler.
Tyler snorts, his arms crossing over his chest. “She’s got ambition, I’ll give her that,” he says, but his gaze lingers on Brodie for a beat too long, like he’s weighing a decision.
I can tell they are pondering what to do next from their scents—Tyler’s sharp citrus tinged with something raw, Brodie’s sun-warmed leather carrying a faint note of weariness. It hits me harder than I expected, the need to comfort them both rising like a wave.
My Omega instincts scream at me to soothe, to smooth over the rough edges between them, but I hold back. I don’t really know these men.
“I don’t know what’s going on between you two,” I say carefully, my voice softer, “but I really need more hands on deck. Can we do this together? This place needs all the help it can get.”
Brodie glances at me, his expression softening further, and Tyler’s gaze shifts to the floor for a moment before he looks up again.
“Fair enough,” Tyler says finally, his voice low but steady. “We’ll figure it out.”
“Yeah,” Brodie adds, his smile returning, though it’s tinged with something bittersweet. “We always do.”
The tension eases further, and I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding as the three of us head inside to give Brodie a tour.
Before we go back inside, Brodie turns back to me, his smile softening just enough to make my stomach flutter. “Well, Sophie,” he says, his voice low and warm, “This is a huge job, but when it’s done, it will be amazing.”
He turns to look at the part of the house that can be seen from the porch, and then back to me. “This town just got a whole lot luckier.”
I let out a laugh, though it sounds more nervous than I intended. “Luckier is definitely one word for it. Come in, and I’ll show you a bit of what I have going on.”
As Brodie steps aside, following right behind me, I feel the weight of both of their gazes lingering on me. The air feels charged, heavy with something I can’t quite name. Whatever it is, I know I won’t be able to ignore it.
7
BRODIE
Ihop into my truck parked out front, forcing myself to wave goodbye to Sophie with casual indifference. But inside? Inside, I’m a goddamn inferno.
My Alpha is clawing at me, demanding I turn back, take her into my arms, and claim what every instinct screams is mine. Her scent still lingers on me—soft and enticing, like a warm breeze that refuses to fade, no matter how much distance I put between me and her.
As I turn down the drive onto the highway, Twilight Harbor rises before me, its quaint charm comforting and suffocating at the same time. I never thought this place would be able to tether me for long, let alone tempt me to stay put.
But now that I’ve found Sophie? Fiery, determined, and so completely unexpected—she’s all I can think about. In the last five minutes, I’ve come up with at least ten excuses to throw at Lily for why I’m not leaving tomorrow as planned.
It’s been two years since I walked away from Ethan and Tyler, telling myself I wasn’t ready to settle, to be part of a pack the way they wanted. I was too afraid to admit how terrifying what they wanted had seemed to me.
Still, they didn’t push me. Tyler, especially, always made space for my restlessness. But I’ve been wandering too long. Maybe I needed the time or was too stubborn to admit I was lost.
Either way, I’m tired. Tired of pretending the road is enough. Tired of ignoring the pull that’s been there all along.
And now, there’s Sophie.
My hands tighten on the wheel as her laugh echoes in my mind, her smile bright enough to chase off shadows I didn’t even know I was carrying within me. And damn, if she doesn’t smell like pure temptation.
Every time I’m around her, that sweet, creamy vanilla smell wraps around me, soft and grounding, yet with an enticing edge. There’s a wild, untamed note behind the sweetness that leaves me restless and wanting more. More than once, I found myself instantly hard due to her smell as she showed me around the house. Yet at the same time, I wanted to wrap her in my arms and protect her from anything and everyone.
I’ve never felt so intense about an Omega. I don’t know what this means—for her, Ethan, and Tyler—but I don’t want to keep running. Not when there’s something worth staying for.
Pulling into the Young family compound, memories of Me, Ethan, and Lily swamp me. They were the only reason I stayed before.
The walk back to the guesthouse gives me plenty of time to think—or overthink. Sophie Everhart. The name alone stirs something in me, but it’s more than that. The way she lit up when she talked about the inn, her plans, her dreams—it’s like watching a spark catch fire.
